Free Press columnist, city’s poet laureate win Governor General’s Literary Awards

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This article was published 13/11/2024 (388 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Two Winnipeg authors whose books explore topics on life in and around the city were named winners of Governor General’s Literary Awards on Wednesday morning.

Free Press columnist Niigaan Sinclair took the top non-fiction prize for his book Wînipêk: Visions of Canada from an Indigenous Centre, published in May by McClelland & Stewart and based on columns Sinclair wrote for the Free Press. Divided into four sections themed by season, the collection examines life in Winnipeg and the surrounding area from an Indigenous perspective.

City of Winnipeg poet laureate Chimwemwe Undi, meanwhile, took the top poetry prize for her collection Scientific Marvel, published in April by House of Anansi. Undi’s collection reflects on experiences in Winnipeg through the lenses of race, gender, immigration and queerness as well as the reality of life in the city and what might be left out of the stories.

It’s the second year running a Winnipeg poet has won the prize; Hannah Green won last year for Xanax Cowboy, also published by House of Anansi.

Winners of the Governor General’s Literary Awards each receive $25,000; their publisher takes home $3,000. For a complete list of winners and finalists see ggbooks.ca.